Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 119 Leaving
Xuanwu Department.

In front of Lin Xuan's cottage.

Upon returning to her tribe, Aya excitedly ran home to tell her parents the good news of her breakthrough.

Youmeng then looked at Lin Xuan and said softly, "If you need anything during this time, just let me know."

Lin Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Could you help me prepare some cooking utensils?"

He didn't quite like the food of the Jiuli people.

If it's just a short stay of a few days, that's fine.

But he still has to stay here for at least another month, and eating that every day is becoming unbearable.

It's better to do it yourself.

Youmeng nodded slightly and said, "I'll have someone bring it over in a bit. Is there anything else?"

Lin Xuan said, "No, that's all."

After watching Youmeng leave, Lin Xuan returned to the hut.

The hut didn't have a kitchen, so he planned to build a simple stove in the back room.

The Jiuli people do not seem to have much of a pursuit when it comes to food.

The meal that Youmeng sent to Lin Xuan was already quite exquisite.

Lin Xuan noticed that most families here didn't even have a stove. They would just put a pot on a few stones, put all the ingredients in the pot, add some salt, and stew them until they were cooked, which was enough to fill their stomachs.

Not long after Youmeng left, someone brought him pots, pans, and other items.

They also left behind a bag of polished rice, a bag of flour, some dried wild game, and a bundle of fresh wild vegetables.

There were two brand-new sets of clothes on the table in the small house.

A small earthenware jar was added to the corner of the wall, with a few unknown wildflowers inserted inside, emitting a delicate fragrance. This added a touch of brightness and vitality to the simple wooden house, and also gave it a more lived-in feel.

Lin Xuan knew that this must have been Youmeng's arrangement.

Thinking of Youmeng, Lin Xuan felt a complex mix of emotions.

As the first and only woman he had ever been intimate with, he never even saw her face.

But even if we met, what then?

She was the noble Holy Maiden of Jiuli. After leaving the Xuanwu Tribe, the two probably never crossed paths again.

Judging from her reaction, that was clearly the case.

Lin Xuan once thought that being surrounded by beautiful women was God's compensation to him from his previous life.

In retrospect, that was his misfortune.

What he craves most is simply a normal relationship.

But even this small request was a luxury for him.

A Luo harbors ulterior motives; their fleeting romance is but a dream. Even the most normal Qing Luan cannot appear before her in a normal capacity.

Suppressing these chaotic thoughts, Lin Xuan began to focus on cooking.

He hadn't had a satisfying meal in many days.

The Xuanwu tribe was short of supplies, and even if he wanted to make something more elaborate, he didn't have the ingredients.

Lin Xuan found some dried mushrooms among the supplies, and cooked a bowl of wild vegetable and mushroom soup noodles with them.

Just as I was about to pick up my chopsticks after bringing a large bowl of noodles back to my room, Aya rushed in.

She sniffed sharply and asked, "Big brother, what smells so good?"

Lin Xuan had no choice but to give her half of his noodles.

Aya seemed oblivious to politeness, slurping up all the noodles in a few bites, then putting down her chopsticks, picking up the bowl, and drinking every last drop of soup, even licking her lips with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Lin Xuan's chopsticks were still hanging in the air when he saw this and asked, "Do you want me to share some with you?"

A bowl of wild vegetable and mushroom noodle soup smells this good. This child must have had a very hard life before...

Aya shook her head repeatedly: "No need, no need..."

Although she had never tasted anything so delicious before, her parents had taught her since she was little that one should not be greedy.

If we eat any more, there won't be enough for the older brother.

So she sat opposite him, propped her chin up, and watched Lin Xuan eat.

In her heart, her older brother was extremely amazing.

He not only helped the saintess successfully obtain the ancestral spirit's inheritance, but he could also cook many delicious foods and perform magic tricks. This made her curious: were all the people outside so amazing?
Ever since Lin Xuan shared half a bowl of noodles with Aya, she has become an NPC that respawns at fixed times in the hut.

She always appears precisely on time for meals.

Sometimes she would bring two pheasants, sometimes a rabbit, a few fish, and yesterday she even brought a deer leg. Lin Xuan roasted it, and she ate until her belly was round before leaving.

Lin Xuan tacitly approved of her freeloading at the restaurant.

After all, experience shows that it's easier to cook for two people.

Moreover, having his culinary skills recognized by others is a source of great satisfaction for him.

In the morning, Aya brought over two fish, and Lin Xuan simply stewed them all together in one pot.

Of course, it wasn't the tribe's method of stewing with just water and salt. Lin Xuan made his own stewing ingredients, and added all the side dishes he could find. Last time, Aya ate five bowls of rice.

His fish had just been stewed and served when Aya appeared at the door right on time.

But this time, she wasn't alone.

Aya grabbed Youmeng's hand and said excitedly, "Holy Maiden, I didn't lie to you, did I? Big Brother's cooking smells amazing! You can smell it if you don't believe me!"

Since returning from the Marrow Cleansing Pool, Lin Xuan has not seen Youmeng again.

This also effectively avoided an awkward situation for the two of them.

Although Youmeng did not explicitly say that she would stay for dinner, Lin Xuan still silently served herself three bowls of rice.

Youmeng sat opposite Lin Xuan and made a move that he didn't expect.

She raised her slender, fair fingertips to her ear and gently removed the veil from her face.

Lin Xuan was slightly taken aback.

This was the first time Youmeng had removed her veil in front of him.

He had imagined what Youmeng looked like.

Even though she wore a veil, her beauty was still evident in her eyes and brows.

However, when the veil was finally lifted, Lin Xuan realized that his imagination was still too limited.

Her skin was as white as jade, seemingly glowing softly in the dim wooden house. It was so delicate that not a single flaw could be seen. Her eyes were clear as water, with slightly upturned corners that outlined an indescribable charm, yet her gaze was pure and untainted by worldly dust. Two completely different qualities blended perfectly on her face.

It was a beauty that was difficult to capture precisely in words, pure with a touch of holiness, and with a gentle and lively quality in her eyes. It was a beauty that Lin Xuan had never seen before.

Thinking about what happened between him and such a woman in the Temple of the Witch God, Lin Xuan couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

Aya looked at Lin Xuan and said with a grin, "Big brother, isn't the Holy Maiden beautiful? Let me tell you a secret, none of the Holy Maidens from other tribes are as beautiful as our Holy Maiden!"

Even if she didn't say it, Lin Xuan knew.

He had seen the holy maidens from the other tribes before.

Some qualities and beauty cannot be hidden by a veil.

Youmeng lowered her eyelids and asked softly, "Are you getting used to living here?"

Lin Xuan snapped out of his daze and said, "I'm used to it. Thank you for your care, Holy Maiden."

Although the Jiuli tribe is portrayed as extremely mysterious by outsiders, after experiencing it firsthand, Lin Xuan felt that, setting aside their Gu techniques and spirit patterns, they were nothing more than a secluded mountain village.

Lin Xuan only spent half a month here, but those half a month were the most comfortable and pleasant days he had ever had in his two lives.

No need to worry about work, no performance targets, no threats, no boss making things difficult...

He probably only needs to think about what to eat each day.

These days, Lin Xuan hasn't even been cultivating. He's been going out hunting and fishing with Aya, and sightseeing along the way, living the life he's always dreamed of.

Youmeng continued, "Since you're used to it, why not stay a little longer?"

She didn't look at Lin Xuan; her gaze was elsewhere, seemingly just a normal polite gesture.

Lin Xuan replied politely, "Thank you, Holy Maiden. We'll talk about it later."

Although this place is pleasant, there are still people he can't let go of outside the Ten Thousand Mountains.

I wonder how Qingluan is doing.

Based on Lin Xuan's understanding of Datura, she shouldn't be harmful to Qingluan.

Even if she had some ulterior motive before, after he faked his death, she had no reason to attack Qingluan.

But he still needed to see it with his own eyes to feel at ease.

Youmeng didn't speak again, and ate her food in small bites.

Her quietness and elegance are somewhat similar to certain aspects of Wenren Yue's personality.

Before leaving, Lin Xuan taught Wenren Yue how to cook her favorite dishes, so she wouldn't have to eat steamed buns with pickled vegetables like before.

After the meal, Youmeng led Aya away.

After walking quite a distance from the hut, Aya suddenly looked up and said, "Holy Maiden Sister, shall we let Big Brother stay in the Xuanwu Tribe?"

Youmeng was silent for a moment, then asked, "Why?"

Aya's eyes were full of anticipation: "That way we can eat delicious food every day, and he'll tell us stories from outside. Saintess, you don't want him to leave, do you?"

Youmeng looked at her and said softly, "Whether he stays or leaves is his own decision. If you can persuade him to stay, the clan will not object..."

……

early morning.

Lin Xuan pushed open the door of the wooden house and stretched.

As the year draws to a close, the atmosphere in the tribe is becoming increasingly lively.

This is Lin Xuan's first New Year since coming into this world. The Jiuli tribe has its own unique customs and rituals for the New Year.

These days, Lin Xuan has been dragged along by Aya and has participated in many of their activities.

People say that the Jiuli tribe is xenophobic, and the Xuanwu tribe is the most closed-off of the nine tribes, but here, Lin Xuan has never been ostracized.

He followed them to worship the shaman god, to pass on the sacred fire to other tribes, to drink the wine of unity with them, and to share the soup of a hundred flavors...

Although the soup wasn't very tasty and the wine was just so-so, it symbolized the unity of the tribe, and that they truly considered him a part of the tribe.

"Good morning, Uncle You Shi!"

"Aunt Youlan, please save one of the pheasants for me today. I'll come and pick it up later."

"No pastries available today, please wait a couple of days..."

……

During this period, Lin Xuan completely integrated into life here.

He didn't let Youmeng continue to provide him with financial assistance, and occasionally he would sell the pastries he made, which earned him some of the local currency.

Those pastries were very popular with the children in the tribe.

Although they were initially forced to buy by Aya, after the first time, Lin Xuan's pastries would be snatched up as soon as they were put out.

Aya skipped and hopped over from a distance, saying, "Big brother, we need to clean the house today, let me help you!"

According to the Jiuli custom, the day before New Year's Eve, the house must be thoroughly cleaned to remove the old dust. Then, the tribe's spirit pattern masters will use silver powder to draw spirit patterns on the lintels and window frames, which symbolize warding off evil and praying for blessings.

Aya filled a basin with water, picked up a piece of burlap, and nimbly climbed onto the roof beam to wipe away the dust.

Lin Xuan was responsible for cleaning the floor and walls.

As Aya wiped the towel, she asked, "Big brother, won't your family be sad if you don't go home for the New Year?"

Lin Xuan shook her head and said, "I have no family."

Aya asked, "Where are your parents?"

Lin Xuandao said, "They passed away a long time ago."

As he answered, two figures appeared in his mind.

These are not Lin Xuan's parents in this world, but his parents.

Every year during the Lunar New Year, no matter how far apart they are, he will go home to spend the holiday with them.

He couldn't imagine how they had spent the year.

Aya was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about your wife?"

A figure that had already reached the door paused slightly.

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "I don't have a wife."

Aya looked at him with pity. Her older brother had no parents or wife; how lonely he must be...

After wiping the roof beams, she jumped down and said, "Big brother, why don't you stay with our Xuanwu tribe? This will be your home from now on!"

Looking at her expectant face, Lin Xuan felt a warmth in his heart and said with a smile, "I still have some things to do outside. I'll come back to see you after I've finished those things."

Aya extended her little finger and immediately said, "Then let's pinky swear!"

Lin Xuan extended her little finger and hooked it with her finger.

At this moment, Youmeng walked in from outside, looked at Lin Xuan, and asked, "Are you planning to leave?"

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and explained, "Thank you for taking care of me during this time, Holy Maiden."

He was ultimately not as carefree as they were.

Lin Xuan must obtain the follow-up techniques of the Zhenyue Gong.

He understood the importance of strength better than anyone else.

No matter where you are, without sufficient strength, you will be at the mercy of others.

He has already come this far; to dissipate his cultivation and start over would come at too high a price.

Without saying much, Youmeng took out silver powder and a special talisman brush, and silently walked outside to draw spirit patterns on the door.

The Xuanwu tribe members passing by outside all showed envy on their faces when they saw this scene.

The sacred symbols drawn by the saint herself represent her blessings and prayers, which are the highest honor for them.

To thank Aya and Youmeng for their help, Lin Xuan specially prepared a few extra dishes today.

Four dishes and a soup might seem a bit meager outside, but here it's considered quite a feast.

During the meal, Aya, who is always chattering away, didn't even have a moment to speak.

Youmeng remained as quiet as ever, but this time, before leaving the small house after finishing her meal, she paused, did not turn around, and said, "Let me know in advance before I leave."

Lin Xuan nodded: "Okay."

……

Night fell, slowly enveloping the entire Xuanwu tribe.

However, the valley was not as quiet as usual tonight.

On the lintels and window frames of every household, the spiritual patterns shimmered faintly, emitting a soft, mercury-like glow. These points of light connected together, resembling a shimmering galaxy spread across the ground, reflecting the real stars in the night sky.

On the bronze altar in the center of the valley, the sacred fire, lit by the saintess herself, is burning brightly.

The young men and women of the tribe held hands and surrounded the altar, singing the ancient songs passed down in the tribe. The entire Xuanwu tribe was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

Lin Xuan sat on the roof of his small house, watching the lively scene unfold.

He had been living here for over a month. He was fine on ordinary days, but whenever there was a grand festival like this, he would clearly realize that he was ultimately out of place with everything here.

He has already told Youmeng that he will be leaving here tomorrow.

In front of the main hall at the highest point of the valley.

Youmeng stood there quietly, her gaze lingering on a figure on the roof below for quite some time.

Free birds will not be confined to this valley.

She let out a soft sigh of relief, turned around, and walked into the main hall.

Day two.

early morning.

Lin Xuan changed into the clothes he had come in. The few sets of Jiuli clothing that the Xuanwu tribe had prepared for him had been washed clean and neatly folded on the bed.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and several figures walked in.

Aya looked at Lin Xuan with reluctance and murmured, "Big brother, are you leaving?"

Lin Xuan slung his bag over his shoulder, stepped forward, gently pinched her cheek, and said with a smile, "I will come back to see you."

Youmeng took a five-foot Miao sword from a maid behind her and handed it to Lin Xuan, saying, "You helped the Xuanwu tribe a lot during this trial. This is a thank-you gift from the High Priest."

Lin Xuan reached out and took it. Although the knife was long, it was extremely light in his hand.

The hilt of the sword was engraved with intricate spiritual patterns. Lin Xuan drew the sword from its sheath and tried to channel some true energy into it. The blade hummed and instantly lit up with spiritual patterns. The aura emanating from the blade sent chills down Lin Xuan's spine.

He had no doubt that even if he channeled all his inner energy, he could not withstand the blow from this blade.

He had just sheathed his sword when Youmeng handed him a soft armor: "Wear this soft armor close to your body. It can help you withstand a full-force attack from a fourth-grade martial artist."

Lin Xuan had a second-hand soft armor, a gift from Commander Zhou, which could only withstand a single blow from a sixth-rank martial artist.

This soft armor is two levels better defensively than the other one.

He did not refuse, accepted the soft armor, and said, "Please thank the High Priest for me."

Youmeng didn't respond, but handed over another wooden box. Lin Xuan opened it and saw a bunch of bottles and jars.

Youmeng continued, "These are some pills. Some are for healing, some are for detoxification, and some are for restoring true energy. The effects of each pill are written on the bottle. You should take them with you."

Lin Xuan silently put away the wooden box, looked at Youmeng, and said, "Thank you, Holy Maiden."

Youmeng looked at him and said softly, "I won't see you off."

She looked behind her and said, "Youze, you escort the young master out of the valley."

Youze respectfully clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Yes."

Lin Xuan changed into his soft armor, packed the pills into his bundle, gripped his Miao sword, and gave Youmeng a slight bow: "Farewell..."

As he and Youze left the tribe, Aya remained by Lin Xuan's side. Holding his hand, she whispered, "Big brother, let me tell you a secret, those things weren't given to you by the High Priest, but by the Holy Maiden. The High Priest wouldn't let her give them away, and she even had a fight with him..."

Lin Xuan paused, turned around and looked back. The figure was still standing at the door of the wooden house.

He glanced at the precious sword in his hand, a complex feeling rising in his heart.

Aya held his hand tightly and said, "Big brother, please come back soon. The Holy Maiden and I will be waiting for you..."

Lin Xuan patted her head and said with a smile, "Next time I come, I'll bring you lots and lots of delicious food..."

Aya jumped up excitedly: "Yay!"

……

Above the valley.

Youze pointed in a certain direction and said, "This is the road back to Bozhou."

Lin Xuan asked, "Which direction is Sizhou in?"

Youze was slightly surprised. He pointed in another direction and said, "You're going to Sizhou? If you keep going from here, it'll take about two days to get there. But it's easy to get lost in the mountains. Do you want me to take you there...?"

Lin Xuan shook his head slightly and said, "No need."

After saying that, he soared into the air, his figure swiftly sweeping past the treetops, disappearing from the horizon of Youze in a few breaths.

Youze's eyes widened in shock. "Fourth, a fourth-grade mage!"

After the initial shock, he felt a deep sense of relief.

That Youman dared to use the Mind-Shocking Technique on a fourth-rank sorcerer! It's already a miracle that this lord didn't turn him into an idiot. Luckily, I didn't offend him...

(End of this chapter)